CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Oct. 27, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Busey Corporation's (Nasdaq:BUSE) consolidated net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 was $283.7 million, or $7.92 per fully-diluted common share, compared to net income of $8.8 million, or $0.25 per fully-diluted common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. On a year-to-date basis, consolidated net loss was $298.6 million, or $8.34 per fully-diluted share in 2009 as compared to net income of $23.4 million, or $0.65 per fully-diluted share in 2008. The quarterly net loss was primarily due to a goodwill impairment charge and an increased provision for loans losses, which were anticipated and disclosed during our September 2009 capital raise.
The goodwill impairment charge of $208.2 million, which is the full amount of goodwill attributable to our banking operations, is a reflection of the reduction in the market value of the Company. The goodwill impairment charge does not affect tangible capital, regulatory capital, cash flows or liquidity. The net loss excluding the goodwill impairment charge was $75.5 million and $90.5 million for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2009, respectively.
We recorded $140.0 million in provision for loan losses in the third quarter of 2009 as compared to $8.0 million in the same period of 2008. The $140.0 million provision for loan losses was $15.0 million higher than initially anticipated once the quarter ending allowance estimate was finalized. Our year-to-date provision for loan losses was $197.5 million, as compared to $22.5 million in 2008. Following the increased provision for loan losses, our allowance for loan losses to loans ratio was 4.0% at September 30, 2009, as compared to 2.8% at June 30, 2009 and 1.5% at September 30, 2008. The allowance as a percentage of nonperforming loans has remained stable at 69.6% at September 30, 2009, as compared to 69.7% and 68.4% at June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008, respectively.
Our credit challenges remain primarily within our Florida and Indiana markets. In Illinois, the ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 1.9% ($42.8 million/$2.27 billion), whereas the ratio was 20.6% ($113.3 million/$549.7 million) in Florida and 8.9% ($16.3 million/$182.6 million) in Indiana. Although non-performing loans increased to $172.5 million, loans 30-89 days past due, $34.0 million, are at the lowest levels since the first quarter of 2008, down from $45.8 million at June 30, 2009 and $46.5 million at September 30, 2008.
We believe our outsized provisioning for loan losses is behind us; however, we still face challenges managing our existing nonperforming loan portfolio. Although we will continue to provision for loan losses, we expect our rate of provisions for loan losses in future quarters to be significantly lower than in the last two quarters. Our expectation is the rate of loans being placed on nonaccrual will begin to decline in the fourth quarter. Our challenge will shift toward managing our existing nonperforming loans out of the bank. As noted in prior releases, nonperforming loans weigh heavily on the performance of the Company. In addition to not producing interest income, nonperforming loans are costly to manage due to the allocated capital, legal and maintenance costs associated with such loans.
We expect that a timely reduction of nonperforming loans will likely involve a significant amount of loan sales. The timeline for working through nonperforming loans is generally measured in years. While we expect any loan sale will be at a discount to the face value of the loan, we must weigh this discount against the costs of carrying the loan through resolution.
Our core operating results (pre-tax, pre-provision operating profit) remained strong, as demonstrated by the following:
* Net interest income increased to $28.5 million in the third quarter of 2009 as compared to $28.4 million in the second quarter of 2009 and $27.6 million in the first quarter of 2009, our second straight quarterly increase. The increase in net interest income occurred despite reversing over $0.8 million in interest income due to placing loans on nonaccrual status. The increase was primarily attributable to lower funding costs as income from earning assets declined by $3.0 million, whereas interest expense from interest- bearing liabilities declined by $3.1 million. * Non-interest income declined $1.1 million compared to the second quarter of 2009 and was up $0.6 million from the third quarter of 2008. The decline from the second quarter of 2009 was primarily due to a second quarter 2009 $1.0 million gain on an investment in a private equity fund. * Non-interest expense, excluding goodwill impairment, decreased to $29.6 million in the third quarter of 2009 as compared to $30.2 million in the second quarter of 2009. The $29.6 million was an increase of $2.2 million as compared to $27.4 million in the third quarter of 2008. The increase over the third quarter of 2008 was primarily attributable to increased costs of other real estate and increased FDIC insurance.
In September 2009, we completed a capital raise of $82.8 million by selling 20.7 million shares of our common stock at $4 per share in a public offering. Additionally, we expect to close on a private placement of $39.3 million of mandatorily convertible preferred stock by the end of October 2009. The preferred stock will convert to common stock at $4 per share upon approval of our common stockholders, which will be voted upon at a special shareholders meeting to be held on December 2, 2009. Upon the closing of the private placement of our mandatorily convertible preferred stock, we will request the US Treasury to reduce the number of shares of our common stock underlying the warrant issued in conjunction with the TARP program by one-half. Materials related to the special shareholders are being mailed October 29, 2009.
The successful capital raise reflected the strength of Busey and the loyalty of its shareholders. We raised significant capital because of the strong core operating results, rich heritage and solid reputation of Busey. We experienced the strength and support of our ownership base through significant participation by our existing shareholders, our Board of Directors and management. The completion of the capital raise was a significant step in strengthening our balance sheet. As noted in prior earnings releases, we are committed to the priorities of Balance Sheet Strength, Profitability and Growth-in that order.
In August 2009, we merged our Florida based bank, Busey Bank, N.A., into Busey Bank, an Illinois state chartered bank. The merger is a win-win for Busey, and more importantly, for our customers. We merged the two banks to provide a more consistent infrastructure that not only benefits Busey operations, but makes it easier for our customers to conduct their business. The merger of the two banks provides operational efficiencies and streamlined procedures across the Busey organization. From a customer perspective, it allows added benefits and convenience -- such as consistent processes and access to ALL Busey banking locations and ATMs.
On October 30, 2009, we will pay a cash dividend of $0.04 per common share to shareholders of record on October 27, 2009. We analyzed this dividend payment decision very carefully to ensure it was consistent with our capital plan, our earnings and the Busey Promise to shareholder value. Although we recorded net losses for the past two quarters, the portion of the net loss related to goodwill impairment did not affect cash flow, liquidity or taxes. We believe our core operating results and current capital position supported the dividend payment. In the previous two quarters, we paid an $0.08 per common share dividend. In light of the new common shares outstanding and our earnings performance, we reduced the dividend by half to keep the cash flow component related to the dividend in line with the previous two quarters. We will continue to review the dividend payment in subsequent quarters.
We thank our associates for their efforts, our customers for their business and you, our shareholders, for your continued support of Busey.
As always, your input and questions are welcome.
\s\ Van A. Dukeman
Corporate Profile
First Busey Corporation is a $4.0 billion financial holding company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Busey Bank, First Busey Corporation's wholly-owned bank subsidiary, is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois and has thirty-four banking centers serving downstate Illinois, a banking center in Indianapolis, Indiana, and eight banking centers serving southwest Florida. Busey Bank had total assets of $3.9 billion as of September 30, 2009.
Busey Wealth Management is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Busey Corporation. Through Busey Trust Company, Busey Wealth Management delivers trust, asset management, retail brokerage and insurance products and services. As of September 30, 2009, Busey Wealth Management had approximately $3.3 billion in assets under care.
First Busey Corporation owns a retail payment processing subsidiary, FirsTech, Inc., which processes over 32 million transactions per year through online bill payments, lockbox processing and walk-in payments through its 4,700 agent locations in 40 states.
Busey provides electronic delivery of financial services through our website, www.busey.com.
SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
-----------------------------
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
---------------------------------- ----------------------
Sept. 30, June 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30,
2009 2009 2008 2009 2008
---------------------------------------------- ----------------------
EARNINGS & PER
SHARE DATA
Net income
/(loss)
(1) $(283,675) $ (20,472) $ 8,817 $ (298,641) $ 23,412
Revenue(2) 44,852 45,872 47,311 134,332 137,766
Fully-
diluted
earnings
(loss)
per share (7.92) (0.57) 0.25 (8.34) 0.65
Cash divi-
dends
paid per
share 0.08 0.08 0.20 0.36 0.60
Net income
(loss) by
operating
segment(3)
Busey
Bank $ (280,677) $ (20,135) $ 6,671 $ (294,942) $ 21,619
Busey
Wealth
Manage-
ment 629 717 766 1,908 2,083
FirsTech 728 847 705 2,397 2,037
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AVERAGE
BALANCES
Assets $4,208,503 $4,419,839 $4,301,126 $4,338,453 $4,243,769
Earning
assets 3,805,332 3,971,923 3,804,205 3,911,780 3,743,959
Deposits 3,325,943 3,436,870 3,312,634 3,415,501 3,247,767
Interest-
bearing
liabil-
ities 3,247,202 3,372,323 3,375,151 3,356,895 3,306,097
Stock-
holders'
equity -
common 377,935 446,600 513,385 414,903 517,594
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PERFORMANCE
RATIOS
Return on
average
assets(4) (26.74%) (1.86%) 0.81% (9.20%) 0.74%
Return on
average
common
equity(4) (297.79%) (18.39%) 6.81% (96.24%) 6.04%
Net
interest
margin(4) 3.03% 2.92% 3.34% 2.94% 3.43%
Efficiency
ratio (5) 62.69% 62.70% 54.79% 60.53% 56.77%
Non-
interest
revenue
as a % of
total rev-
enues(2) 36.54% 38.09% 33.54% 37.13% 31.60%
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ASSET
QUALITY
Gross
loans $3,004,072 $3,162,007 $3,229,394
Allowance
for loan
losses 120,021 88,549 48,674
Net
charge-
offs 108,528 47,449 7,905 176,150 16,336
Allowance
for loan
losses to
loans 4.00% 2.80% 1.51%
Allowance
as a per-
centage
of non-
per-
forming
loans 69.58% 69.65% 68.37%
Non-per-
forming
loans
Non-
accrual
loans 157,978 122,595 59,347
Loans 90+
days
past due 14,526 4,540 11,847
Geograph-
ically
Downstate
Illinois/
Indiana 59,158 36,714 16,041
Florida 113,346 90,421 55,153
Loans 30-89
days past
due 34,008 45,689 46,488
Other
non-per-
forming
assets 16,638 14,786 4,846
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1 Available to common stockholders, net of preferred dividend and
TARP warrant accretion
2 Net of interest expense, excludes security gains.
3 Busey Bank, N.A. was merged into Busey Bank in August 2009.
All Busey Bank, N.A. information has been combined with Busey
Bank restrospectively.
4 Quarterly ratios annualized and calculated on net income (loss)
available to common stockholders.
5 Net of security gains and intangible charges.
Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This document may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of the Company. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the Company's management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should" or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events. A number of factors, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in its forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (i) the strength of the local and national economy; (ii) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats or attacks; (iii) changes in state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning the Company's general business; (iv) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of the Company's assets; (v) increased competition in the financial services sector and the inability to attract new customers; (vi) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (vii) the loss of key executives or employees; (viii) changes in consumer spending; (ix) unexpected results of acquisitions; (x) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company; and (xi) changes in accounting policies and practices. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect the Company's financial results, is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)
Sept. 30, June 30, Dec. 31, Sept. 30,
2009 2009 2008 2008
----------------------------------------------
Assets
Cash and due from
banks $ 183,243 $ 90,797 $ 190,113 $ 93,443
Investment securities 601,129 648,891 654,130 619,984
Net loans 2,884,051 3,073,458 3,158,910 3,180,720
Premises and equipment 79,663 80,082 81,732 81,979
Goodwill and other
intangibles 45,420 254,675 256,868 277,980
Other assets 180,400 128,611 118,340 85,113
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Total assets $3,973,906 $4,276,514 $4,460,093 $4,339,219
=====================================================================
Liabilities & Stock-
holders' Equity
Non-interest bearing
deposits $ 427,267 $ 458,647 $ 378,007 $ 359,028
Interest-bearing
deposits 2,855,386 2,885,426 3,128,686 2,939,343
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Total deposits $3,282,653 $3,344,073 $3,506,693 $3,298,371
Federal funds purchased
& securities sold
under agreements to
repurchase 158,875 154,099 182,980 227,386
Short-term borrowings -- 30,000 83,000 72,000
Long-term debt 120,493 125,493 134,493 134,910
Junior subordinated
debt owed to
unconsolidated trusts 55,000 55,000 55,000 55,000
Other liabilities 33,826 38,893 43,110 37,692
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities $3,650,847 $3,747,558 $4,005,276 $3,825,359
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total stockholders'
equity $ 323,059 $ 528,956 $ 454,817 $ 513,860
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities &
stockholders' equity $3,973,906 $4,276,514 $4,460,093 $4,339,219
=====================================================================
Per Share Data
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Book value per
common share $ 3.95 $ 11.98 $ 12.70 $ 14.36
Tangible book value
per common share $ 3.14 $ 4.87 $ 5.53 $ 6.59
Ending number of
common shares
outstanding 56,516 35,816 35,815 35,788
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
----------------------------------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
----------------------------------------------
Interest and fees on
loans $ 39,198 $ 48,771 $ 122,945 $ 149,033
Interest on investment
securities 5,425 6,058 17,613 18,938
Other interest income -- 65 -- 173
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total interest income $ 44,623 $ 54,894 $ 140,558 $ 168,144
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest on deposits 13,732 19,680 48,047 61,701
Interest on short-term
borrowings 510 1,433 2,036 4,948
Interest on long-term
debt 1,220 1,494 3,800 4,615
Junior subordinated
debt owed to
unconsolidated trusts 697 846 2,216 2,651
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total interest expense $ 16,159 $ 23,453 $ 56,099 $ 73,915
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Net interest income $ 28,464 $ 31,441 $ 84,459 $ 94,229
Provision for loan
losses 140,000 8,000 197,500 22,450
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Net interest income
(loss) after provision
for loan losses $ (111,536) $ 23,441 $(113,041) $ 71,779
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Fees for customer
services 4,413 4,405 12,702 12,250
Trust fees 3,067 3,342 9,620 10,113
Remittance processing 3,251 3,114 9,886 9,089
Commissions and
brokers' fees 431 792 1,378 2,180
Gain on sales of loans 3,809 1,082 9,942 3,448
Net security gains 65 7 140 509
Other 1,417 3,135 6,345 6,457
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total non-interest
income $ 16,453 $ 15,877 $ 50,013 $ 44,046
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Salaries and wages 10,955 11,534 32,376 34,897
Employee benefits 2,615 2,708 8,186 8,430
Net occupancy expense 2,414 2,326 7,385 7,115
Furniture and
equipment expense 1,817 1,989 5,576 6,256
Data processing expense 1,989 1,570 5,651 4,886
Amortization expense 1,091 1,129 3,271 3,388
Goodwill impairment
expense 208,164 -- 208,164 --
Other operating
expenses 8,713 6,123 23,128 17,652
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total non-interest
expense $ 237,758 $ 27,379 $ 293,737 $ 82,624
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) before
income taxes $ (332,841) $ 11,939 $(356,765) $ 33,201
Income taxes (50,522) 3,122 (61,210) 9,789
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) $ (282,319) $ 8,817 $(295,555) $ 23,412
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Preferred stock
dividends and TARP
warrant accretion $ 1,356 $ -- $ 3,086 $ --
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) available
for common
stockholders $ (283,675) $ 8,817 $(298,641) $ 23,412
=====================================================================
Per Share Data
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic earnings (loss)
per common share $ (7.92) $ 0.25 $ (8.34) $ 0.65
Fully-diluted earnings
(loss) per common
share $ (7.92) $ 0.25 $ (8.34) $ 0.65
Diluted average common
shares outstanding 35,816 35,856 35,816 35,972